A late-morning accident that had implications for both directions of the Glenn Jackson Bridge snarled both Interstate 205 and Interstate 5 for much of the day Monday. But traffic mostly recovered in time for the evening commute.
Traffic in both directions was affected before the wreck was declared cleared at 3:08 p.m. Webcams and traffic sensors on both Oregon and Washington state transportation websites still showed miles of slow northbound traffic. By 5 p.m., traffic had recovered to nearly normal Monday afternoon levels.
The accident occurred about 11:30 a.m. during a downpour. A southbound tractor-trailer rig jackknifed on Interstate 205 and struck the median barrier and a light pole, causing the pole to careen across the northbound lanes. The impact ripped open the fuel tanks on the tractor, spilling diesel onto the freeway and the bike lane.
The location was about 500 feet south of the Washington-Oregon borderon the bridge.
The trucker, whose name was not released, was not injured but required extrication from the wreckage, according to emergency radio traffic monitored at The Columbian.
Fire departments from Vancouver and Portland were called to respond. An ambulance was dispatched, thencanceled after the driver told firefighters he was OK.
An environmental crew responded to clean up the spilled fuel.